Salon Owner Now Jailed in Tyler

A Tyler Beauty Salon owner charged with illegally performing breast augmentations is back in Tyler after she was arrested in Harrison County last week.

39 year old Carmel Foster-Alexander is accused of injecting two people with some kind of substance to augment their breasts, and one person, Sheena Bradford of Longview, remains hospitalized in critical condition.

The FDA Criminal Division is assisting Tyler Police in their investigation and is expected to identify the substance this week.

Foster is jailed in Smith County on bonds totaling $200,000.

Woman Sought in Bank Robbery

HENDERSON, TX – Law enforcement in Henderson has released a surveillance photo of a suspect wanted in connection with today’s bank robbery at the Citizens National Bank located on highway 79.

Police say the suspect is described as a white female, 5’5”, stocky build and wore a type of mask to hide her face during the hold up.

Witnesses told police the suspect had a handgun and fled with an undetermined amount of cash in a vehicle. Police said they are gathering information on the description of the getaway vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

WARREN — Tyler County Sheriff's deputies have taken a 12-year-old boy into custody after witnesses reported he pointed a loaded gun at a classmate standing in the lunch line at a rural junior high school in East Texas.

Sheriff David Hennigan says the seventh-grader who attends Warren Jr. High School , apparently objected to comments the student made about a female classmate. Hennigan says the .25-caliber pistol was loaded, but there was no bullet chambered.

Two coaches escorted the boy to the school office and held him for deputies. Hennigan says he has been placed in the juvenile detention center in adjacent Hardin County and will be charged with aggravated assault.

Tyler Chosen for Statewide Business

Centene Corporation, a leading manager of health care services, has chosen Tyler as its first choice in Texas for the location of a multi-state regional claims processing facility in the new 140-acre Tyler Business and Technology Park.  The move could create about 325 new jobs in Tyler.

The St. Louis-based Centene, the nation’s fourth-largest Medicaid manager, would be the first owner of a site within the Tyler Business and Technology Park, which was developed by the Tyler Economic Development Council (TEDC).

In a statement released today by the City of Tyle , Mayor Barbara Bass said , “We are excited at the prospect of having Centene Corporation as a new corporate citizen that brings quality jobs to Tyler. Centene has a reputation as an active and generous corporate citizen in the communities in which it has offices.”

Centene Corporation, a Fortune 400 company, is a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related services to the rising number of under-insured and uninsured individuals.

Longview Retailers Sell Alcohol to Minors

LONGVIEW -- Six Longview retailers have been cited for selling alcohol to minors.

The Longview Police Dept.and the TABC conducted the sting operation Feb. 24 and found the following locations were selling to minors:

1. 4108 W Loop 281 # 101 – Kyle’s Kwik Stop # 3
2. 100 S Access Road – Food Fast # 7
3. 3122 Estes Parkway – Brianna’s Stop n Shop
4. 1800 S High Street – Super 1 Foods
5. 2001 N Eastman Road – Zippy J’s No. 5
6. 1516 W Fairmont Street – Zippy J’s No.4

A total of 30 different retailers were checked by undercover teams.

Trial for Man Who Sold Missle Batteries to Iran Postponed

EL PASO — A federal hearing for a retired British businessman accused of trying to sell missile batteries to Iran in 2006 has been postponed.

Christopher Tappin was scheduled to appear Monday in a federal court in El Paso after being extradited last week, but the hearing was delayed until Today.

Tappin turned himself in Friday after fighting extradition from the United Kingdom for two years. Two other men were sentenced in 2007 to 20 and 24 months in federal prison for their roles in the scheme.

People with Health Insurance in Texas Should Rise

AUSTIN — State officials told lawmakers that the percentage of Texans with health insurance would rise from 74 percent to 91 percent under new federal health care rules.

State Medicaid Director Billy Millwee also said the state is prepared for new laws, whether the U.S. Supreme Court declares them constitutional or not.

The House Public Health and Insurance Committees met at the Capitol on Monday to hear about how the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will affect the state.

The Texas Legislature only meets in odd-numbered years, but the committees hold hearings when they are out of session.

The Republican-controlled Legislature has repeatedly complained about the changes in health care law. Lawmakers also heard testimony on the rising cost of health care and the difficulties in paying for government programs.

Concert Set for Johnny Cash's Birthday

NASHVILLE — An all-star lineup is scheduled to celebrate what would have been Johnny Cash's 80th birthday with a concert. Kenny Chesney, Lucinda Williams and Shooter Jennings are among those expected to perform at the April 20 show at the Austin City Limits Live venue.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow.